Electrochemical Instrumentation
Control over the electrode / solution interface is mandatory for studying electrochemical phenomena.
Analog (Manual) Potentiostats
We have a number of analog potentiostats that are based on the HEKA designs. These are standard three electrode potentiostats and are totally analog, with two external inputs, an internal sweep generator, and outputs for the E and I and user controllable input and output bandwidth settings. These are quite fast potentiostats (rise time <10 usec) and work well. Data is collected via NI data acquisition cards and LabView software using VIs that were developed in house for CV and AC voltammetry and our spectroelectrochemical coupled measurements. These potentiostats are used in all in-situ fluorescence microscopy measurements.
Computer interfaced/controlled
We also use Metrohm Autolab potentiostats: (two PGStat 30). These potentiostats are computer controlled through a USB interface. The software for performing the experiments (Nova) is quite flexible and interfaces with LabView. We are able to perform almost any measurement needed, and easily interface with the in-situ optical measurements.
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is accomplished with the PGStat30 potentiostats.
Portable USB Potentiostats
Recently, our electronic shop has produced portable potentiostats based on the design by Michael Dryden (from Wheeler’s group at UofT) A description is found here: http://microfluidics.utoronto.ca/gitlab/dstat/dstat-documentation/wikis/home). These are great for measurements that are low current and do not have a high impedance between the RE and working solution.